Category Archives: HealthInfoUK News

General

The Health Benefits Of Cherry Juice

We have some good news for the five million people in England who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) – cherry juice could help lower high blood pressure. cherry

Researchers have found that drinking cherry juice is just as good as taking blood pressure medication.

A study found that people who drank 60ml of cherry concentrate, diluted with water, saw their blood pressure drop by 7% in 3 hours.

If high blood pressure is left untreated it can increase the risk of heart failure, kidney disease, stroke, heart attack and dementia.

But drinking 60ml of cherry concentrate can reduce  the risk of a stroke by 38% and heart disease by 23%.

The scientists think that cherry juice has a strong impact on blood pressure because it is rich in phenolic acids.

Study leader Karen Keane, whose work was funded by the Cherry Marketing Institute in the US, said: ‘The majority of cardiovascular disease is caused by risk factors that can be controlled, treated or modified.

These include high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, tobacco use, lack of physical activity and diabetes.

Raised blood pressure is the leading cause of deaths from cardiovascular disease, yet relatively small reductions in blood pressure can have a large impact on mortality rates.

The magnitude of the blood pressure lowering effects we observed was comparable to those achieved by a single anti-hypertensive drug and highlights the potential importance that Montmorency cherries could have in the effective management of high blood pressure.’

Co-author Professor Glyn Howatson added: ‘This is the first study to investigate the acute effects of Montmorency tart cherry consumption on blood pressure, arterial stiffness and microvascular vasodilation in males with early hypertension.

This exciting set of data complements a growing body of research to show that eating the right sorts of foods can provide potential health benefits.

We believe these benefits might be linked to the combined actions of some of the plant compounds within the Montmorency concentrate and the positive impact they exert on vascular function.’

This is good news for those who suffer from the side effects of blood pressure medication. Some blood presure medicine can cause erectile dysfunction and depression.

If you have any concerns regarding high blood pressure, please see your GP.

If you are currently taking medicine for high blood pressure, you should not stop taking this for cherry juice.

To read more CLICK HERE.

If you think you suffer from erectile dysfunction, please go to www.ukmeds4u.com for your free online private consultation.

Sexual health

Porn Can Encourage Men To Have Safe Sex

Porn can play an important role in promoting safe anal sex, according to research.safe sex

Men are more likely to use condoms if they see the contraception being used in sexually explicit pornography, experts reveal.

Researchers carried out a survery including 265 men who have had sex with men and have watched explicit pornography in the last three months.

The men were atleast 18 years old and lived within 50 miles of New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

Majority of the men (92%) had watched sexually explicit media containing unsafe anal sex and nearly half of them said that this lead to them having riskier sex.

The findings suggest that porn can encourage men to engage in unsafe anal sex.

Dr Eric Schrimshaw, an associate professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, said:  ‘Actually one type of pornography was associated with higher rates of condom use – men who viewed more pornography containing condom use engaged in fewer condomless anal sex encounters.

Even those who took part in compulsive pornography viewing were not more likely to engage in condomless anal sex.

In contrast, men who watched pornography where there were unprotected anal sex encounters were less likely to use condoms themselves.’

Condoms can help to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.

Condoms are the only contraception to protect againist STIs and pregnancy.

To read more CLICK HERE.

For more information on sexual health, go to www.ukmeds4u.com

General, Uncategorized

What Happens To Your Body When You Don’t Get Enough Sleep

Around 1 in 3 adults regularly have less than five hours sleep each night and according to scientists, a lack of sleep doesn’t just make you tired. It can make you gain weight.

sleep
This image was taken from sleepfoundation.org

The recommended amount of sleep most adults need each night is between six and nine hours.

In a study, participants who slept five hours or less gained two pounds over  two weeks because they snacked more.

However, when they slept the recommended amount they lost the gained weight as they reduced their consumption of fat and carbohydrates.

Professor Ken Wright, of Colorado Boulder University, said: ‘I don’t think extra sleep by itself is going to lead to weight loss. 

Problems with weight gain and obesity are much more complex than that. But I think it could help.

If we can incorporate healthy sleep into weight-loss and weight-maintenance programmes our findings suggest it may assist people to obtain a healthier weight.’

Obesity is a common problem and around 1 in 4 adults are obese in the UK.

To read more CLICK HERE

If you are overweight (BMI 28 and over), tried dieting and excerise
but still haven’t had success – please go to www.ukmeds4u.com for a free private online consultation for other weightloss options.

General, Sexual health

National Bacterial Vaginosis Month – April 2016

This April, Balance Activ and Dr Dawn Harper have teamed up to support National Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Month.

bacterial vaginosis
This image was taken from balanceactiv.com

They aim to raise awareness of bacterial vaginosis and encourage women to learn more about the causes and symptoms.

Bacterial vaginosis is a common, but not well known, vaginal condition.

BV occurs when there is an imbalance  of the pH in the vagina which can cause lots of unpleasant symptoms such as fishy odour and abnormal thin, grey discharge from the vaginal area.

BV affects 1 in 3 women.

The campaign also encourages women to talk about all feminine health problems, not just BV.

If you think you might be suffering from bacterial vaginosis then please see your GP.

But in the meantime you can check your symptoms online – CLICK HERE

Diet, General

Good News For Dieters – ‘Cheat Day’ Will Help You Lose Weight

We have some good news for those on a diet – cheat days do help you lose weight!cheat day

Scientists say that a once a week cheat day to eat sugary treats can make it easier for dieters to lose weight.

According to recent research, planned cheat days help slimmers to resist the temptation the rest of the time and makes dieting more appetising.

Researchers carried out three experiments.

In the first experiment, 59 men and women role-played being on a diet. Half imagined being on a traditonal diet, while the other half dieted for six days and had a cheat day on the seventh day.

At the end of the procedure, they had to imagine walking down a supermarket snack aisle when hungry and think of ways to avoid giving in to temptation.

The results found that those who had the cheat day diet came up with more methods.

In the second experiment, researchers observed the weight, mood and willpower of 36 men and women who actually dieted for 2 weeks. Half followed a strict diet of 1,500 calories a day and the others ate 1,300 calories a day – apart from on Sundays, when they could eat 2,700 calories.

Tests showed that those who had the cheat day had stronger self-control than those who had the conventional diet. They were also happier, more motivated and lost just as much weight.

The final experiment showed that the same theory can apply to other goals such as saving money, where the occasional spending spree can make it easier to stick to a budget.

Researcher Marcel Zeelenberg, of Tilburg University in the Netherlands, said: ‘The findings… show it is important to plan hedonistic moments in goal pursuit when it is “good to be bad”.

Sometimes it is good in the long run to be temporarily bad in the short run.’

To read more CLICK HERE

If you are overweight (BMI 28 and over), tried dieting and excerise
but still haven’t had success – please go to www.ukmeds4u.com for a free private online consultation for other weightloss options.

Drugs, General, Mens Health

Could Metformin Prevent Type 1 Diabetes?

Children who are at risk of developing type 1 diabetes will trail metformin to see if the cheap drug can prevent the disease.

The study will take part in Scotland which will involve children, aged 5 to 16, taking a simple blood test to determine whether they are at risk of developing the condition.

Scotland has the third highest rate of type 1 diabetes in the world.

If they are found to be at risk then they will be given the chance to take part in a clincal trail.

Metformin is the worlds most common prescribed medicine for diabetes.

The study will test whether metformin can stop the immune response from destroying beta cells.

Professor Wilkin, of the University of Exeter Medcial School, said: ‘We still have no means of preventing type 1 diabetes which, at all ages, results from insufficient insulin.

‘We all lose beta cells over the course of our lives, but most of us have enough for normal function.

‘However, if the rate of beta cell loss is accelerated, type 1 diabetes develops, and the faster the loss, the younger the onset of the condition.’

It has been estimated that 80,000 children worldwide develop type 1 diabetes each year.

Diabetes can lead to other health problems such as heart disease, kidney failure and erectile dysfunction in men.

To read more CLICK HERE

If you have any concerns regarding diabetes then you should speak to your GP.

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction then visit www.ukmeds4u.com for your free online private consultation.

 

General, Mens Health

Allergy Awareness Week 2016

During 25th April – 1st May 2016 , Allergy UK will be raising awareness about various allergies and highlighting the problems people face who suffer from them.allergy

The topics which will be discussed throughout the week are:

Monday – Misconceptions of Allgery
Tuesday – Hay Fever and Asthma
Wednesday – Skin Conditions
Thursday – Food Allergy
Friday – Fundraising

It is thought that 1 in 4 people in the UK will suffer from an allergy at some point in their lives.

Common allergies are:
– Food
– Pollen
– Dust mites
– Medication
– Animal dander

For more information CLICK HERE

Diet, General, Mens Health

Womb Cancer Rise Linked To Obesity

A rise in obesity has contributed to a 54% increase in womb cancer among UK women over the last 20 years, according to Cancer Research UK.

womb cancer
This image was taken from Cancer Research UK.

Around 19 women in every 100,000 developed womb cancer in the early 1990s, but that has now risen to 29 women in every 100,000.

Around 9,000 women are diagnosed with uterine (womb) cancer every year and around 2,000 women die from the disease each year.

Professor Jonathan Ledermann, director of the Cancer Research UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, said: ‘It’s worrying that womb cancer cases are going up so sharply.

We don’t know all the reasons why. But we do know that about a third of cases are linked to being overweight so it’s no surprise to see the increases in womb cancer cases echo rising obesity levels.

The good news is that thanks to research and improved treatments, survival has improved.

In the 1970s, almost six in 10 women diagnosed with the disease survived for at least 10 years. Now almost eight in 10 women survive.

But we need more research to understand the biology of the disease better and to know more about how it is caused so that we can improve the treatment of these women as well as preventing more cases.’

Cancer Research UK said: ‘The science behind how extra weight can cause cancer is not completely clear. But there is evidence that extra fat in the body can raise cancer risk by producing hormones and growth factors that encourage cells to divide.’

Obesity can lead to other health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.

To read more CLICK HERE

If you are overweight (BMI 28 and over), tried dieting and excerise
but still haven’t had success – please go to www.ukmeds4u.com for a free private online consultation for other weightloss options.

 

Erectile dysfunction, Mens Health, Sexual health

Would You Tell Your Friends Your Sex Secrets Or Intimate Health Issues?

It has been confirmed that women are more likely to talk about sex with their friends than their partners.

sex secrets

Women’s intimate health brand Balance Activ as part of BV Awareness Month have revealed that women won’t share sex secrets with their partners but will happily discuss with friends.

According to a study, 38% will reveal how often they have sex and 3 in 10 will give details such as where they have done the deed.

However, women are not as open to share details about intimate health matters.

Less than 1 in 5 women will discuss this with their friends as they fear they will be rejected or feel embarassed.

In a bid to encourage more women to talk about intimate health issues, Balance Activ and Dr Dawn Harper have organised its ‘Time to Talk’ campaign, in conjunction with BV (Bacterial Vaginosis) Awareness Month.

It isn’t just women who shy away from talking about sexual health matters – only 6% of men talk about these issues.

Some men feel embarassed to speak to their partners or GP about sexual health problems such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

To read more CLICK HERE

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation but don’t want to speak to your GP, please go to www.ukmeds4u.com for a free private e-consultation with their Doctor.

Diet, General, Mens Health

Full-Fat Milk Can Help You Lose Weight

People who drink whole fat milk are less likely to develop diabetes and become obese than those who drink skimmed milk, scientists have revealed. MILK

For years we have been advised to switch to lower-fat dairy products to lower the risk of obesity and diseases such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

However, according to a team of Tufts University scientists, neither low-fat nor full-fat dairy products were found to have major effects on heart disease risk factors.

For over 15 years, the scientists analyzed the blood of 3,333 adults who took part in the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

They found that people who had higher levels of dairy fat in their system had 46% less risk of developing diabetes than those who had low levels of dairy fat.

The scientists came to the conculsion that three dairy biomarkers – plasma 15:0 and 17:0, and trans-16:1 n-7 – along with fatty acids are accountable for the lower occurrence of diabetes.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University and Karolinska Institute looked at the effects that full-fat and low-fat dairy products have on obesity.

They studied 18,438 women from the Women’s Healthy Study and found that 8,238 of those women became obese after 11 years.

The women who consumed the most high-fat dairy products were less likely to become obese, the scientists found.

To read more, CLICK HERE

If you are overweight (BMI 28 and over) and tried dieting and excerise but still haven’t had success – please go to www.ukmeds4u.com for a free consultation for other weightloss options.